Antique Glass Lamps Beautiful Expressive Forms of Art

Antique Glass Lamps truly are works of art from times past. It is generally recognized that antique glass lamp shades are luxury decors.

The reason why they are expensive is because historically, glass lamp shades were made by expert artisans.

Most of the antique glass lamps were hand-made, so they are far more durable than modern materials.

Glass work in fact is a highly expressive art form; the hand-made ones could be cooled slow enough to ensure great resistance to breakage.

Glass lamp shades come in many styles, sizes, colors and prices.

The glass lamp shade itself is a very creative art work that must symmetrically adhere to the structure of the lamp, yet it is unrestrained in decorative adornments and coloring as in the case of stained glass.

Two highly regarded and well-known lamp designers who gave a distinctive character to glass lamps were Tiffany and Handel.

The history of antique glass lamps goes back to the time when light was provided by oil lamps.

Oil was a popular fuel for the basic lamps of the ancient days. To protect the flame and keep it burning, a glass covering was installed.

For quite some time during those periods, this was the only source of evening light. And what a difference that made to the lives of the people during those times.

Basically, the first lamp shades were made in the shape of vases that have bulges, and with openings both at the top and at the bottom.

The bottom part of the glass covering was fitted to a base that was either filled with whale oil or with camphene (these are substances made by mixing alcohol, turpentine and camphor oil).

It was a simple but brilliant innovation: the glass draws air inside and concentrates at the wick, making the lamp shine brighter.

Moreover, the glass covering protected the flame from outside disturbances.

Antique Glass Lamps - History and Production

As time goes by, new innovations in lamp technology occurred. Lamp fuels changed from oil to kerosene and gas, and then eventually to electricity; and along with this, improvement in the shape of the glass lamp shade also changed.

With the advent of petroleum mining in the middle of the 19th century, kerosene lamp shades also gained popularity.

Antique Glass Lamp Shade

Kerosene made the lamps shine brighter. The glass shades that were used on these lamps were taller and narrower in shape minus the bulge.

This lean structure of the glass shades pulled the flame towards the top, making the flame more powerful and bright.

You can still find antique glass lamps adorned with beautiful glass shades.

This shape became more beneficial so it continued to be used until the 20th century.

This lamp shade shape was eventually adapted by mantle lamps that use gas fumes.

Going into the 20th century, man began to harness electricity. As electricity became a cheaper commodity, glass lamps were made to operate on it.

The result: the glare of the flame was reduced. Soothing, softer light was emitted by electric powered lamps.

This electric revolution suddenly inspired lamp designers to create a myriad of shapes for these lamps.

There was much creativity in design put into making gorgeous glass covers for lamps operated by electricity.

Tiffany was a forerunner in producing numerous beautiful glass lamp shades. He was the first to use stained glass for lamp shades.

Quite a number of his antique glass lamps and shades are still preserved today and are highly sought after.

Nowadays, there are many different types of antique glass lamps in nearly every style you could think of.

There are, of course, the Tiffany glass lamps which tend to be very ornate and often feature floral motifs which are a reflection of the Art Nouveau decorating style.

Light fixtures crafted in the Victorian Style on the other hand tend to feature liberal use of curves and smooth, flowing lines, with spiraling floral and vine patterns that are common motifs found on shades and in many cases the bases themselves.

Also worth mentioning are the Art Deco lamps or Mid-century Modern lamps which tend to have clean, smooth lines or strong geometric shapes, yet again reflecting the design of the its period.

So if you are thinking of decorating your home using antique light fixtures, you might as well consider antique glass lamps.

There are various style and designs that may suit your home. You only have to know where to look.